The roles that defined a Hollywood original

Hollywood remembers one of its most unique stars: Diane KeatonThe Oscar-winning actress whose charm, wit and unconventional style made her a generational icon has died at the age of 79. News of her passing on October 11, 2025 left fans and fellow stars reflecting on a career that spanned more than five decades, one that redefined what it meant to be a leading lady. Keaton’s characters were rarely perfect, often awkward, and always approachable. She brought depth, humor and emotional truth to every role she played. From “Annie Hall” to “The First Wives Club,” we look back at the performances that made Diane Keaton a legend and why her work will continue to resonate for generations to come.

Few performances have changed Hollywood like Keaton’s “Annie Hall” did. Her portrait of a free-spirited, slightly neurotic woman navigating love and identity was as groundbreaking as it was relevant. Keaton’s mix of vulnerability and confidence made Annie Hall an instant classic and won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film not only redefined romantic comedies, but it also redefined women in romantic comedies.

Off-screen, Keaton’s iconic men’s wardrobe sparked a fashion movement that continues to influence designers today. Her wide ties, floppy hats and layered vests became symbols of effortless individuality, much like the woman herself.

Long before she was known for her comedic charm, Keaton proved her dramatic talent as Kay Adams in the “Godfather” trilogy. As Michael Corleone’s conflicted wife, Keaton brought moral weight and emotional complexity to one of cinema’s darkest stories. Her restrained and heartbreaking performance, particularly in that unforgettable moment when the door closes on Kay’s face, remains one of the most powerful images in the series.

In Warren Beatty’s “Reds”, Keaton plays journalist and activist Louise Bryant, a woman torn between passion and politics in the early 20th century. The film earned Keaton another Academy Award nomination and cemented her reputation as one of the most versatile actresses of her time.

As Bryant, she captured the tension of a woman fighting to be heard, both in love and in history. “Reds” allowed Keaton to shed the comedic mask and fully enter dramatic territory, proving her depth as an artist and storyteller.

In the ’90s and 2000s, Keaton reinvented herself again, but this time as Hollywood’s queen of mature, self-aware storytelling.

In Nancy Meyers’ romantic comedy “Something’s Gotta Give,” Keaton starred alongside Jack Nicholson as a playwright rediscovering love later in life. Her vulnerability and humor earned her another Oscar nomination and reminded audiences that love stories have no expiration date.

Her role in “Father of the Bride” (and its sequel) made her the quintessential ’90s mom, warm, collected and never-ending. And in “Marvin’s Room,” she showed the depth of her dramatic power, playing a woman caring for her dying father while struggling with her own mortality.